Speaker
Description
Near-detector surface contamination from 210 Pb produces a persistent background for the SuperCDMS experiment due to subsequent beta decays and 206 Pb nuclear recoils from 210 Po alpha decays. Characterizing the energy and position distribution of these near-surface backgrounds through a calibration campaign is essential for informing fiducial-volume cuts and determining their effectiveness. This presentation details the constraints and fabrication methods required to produce an optimal 210 Pb calibration source. The source activity must be designed with a decay rate low enough to minimize detector event pile-up but high enough to exceed background rates at the test facility to produce statistically significant results. To meet activity requirements at the time of deployment, our group uses an accelerated electrostatic radon plate-out process. We will present the constraints driving our target activity calculations alongside the design and implementation of the source fabrication apparatus.